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U S V I COMING BACK BETTER THAN EVER B Y R U F U S M C K I N N E Y The U.S. Virgin Islands is one of the most naturally beautiful places in the world. The white sand beaches with clear blue waters consistently rank among the top in the world. The islands also boast one of the most favorable climates with an average temperature of 77 degrees F in the winter and 82 degrees F in the sum- mer. Steady trade winds keep the islands comfortably cool year round. Planners looking for an unparalleled destination will find plenty of choices in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Whether planning for a group of CEOs or an incentive retreat with spouses and children in tow, knowledgeable meeting managers and enthusiastic destination management companies (DMCs) are available to sup- ply the latest technology and prepare cre- ative itineraries. Diverse venues range from first-class luxury resorts to smaller, intimate hideaways, to elegant off-site locations for hosting functions. Many properties are still in the recovery mode, but when they all come back on line, the USVI will be better than ever. Destination meetings are made easy with nonstop service on most of the major carriers from a variety of U.S. gate- ways. U.S. citizens don't need a passport to enjoy the islands, and favorable tax incentives and global shipping options make transactions simple. Diverse venues range from first-class luxury resorts to smaller, intimate hide- aways, to elegant off-site locations for hosting functions. Two of the USVI's popular meeting properties – the 151- room Carambola Beach Resort and the 478-room Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort are among those facilities currently closed for repairs and will reopen in 2019. If you're seeking a romantic island get- away that intensifies your feelings of love and captivates your adventurous spirit, the U.S. Virgin Islands is the ideal spot for your storybook wedding. Tying the knot in the U.S. Virgin Islands is as stress-free as it is breathtaking with the islands simple marriage laws, and there's no passport required for U.S. citizens. Once you arrive on the islands, you will coordinate with experienced wedding planners and specialists committed to every last detail of your wedding, reception and honey- moon so that you can fully bask in the beauty of your special day. Once business concludes, the beauti- ful islands offer a stunning array of enter- tainment and recreation options, including yacht races, championship golf courses, and a $1,600 duty-free allowance and dis- counts up to 40%. It's no surprise that the U.S. Virgin Islands is consistently recog- nized with the Successful Meetings' Pinnacle Award. Make your next meeting mean more in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Carnival in St. John combines the excitement of carnival with the spirit of emancipation. July 3, 1848, marks the date slaves were emancipated in the USVI. In honor of the USVI's emancipa- tion, the St. John Festival takes place in late June and traditionally culminates on July 4th. It's an exciting time of year, as Cruz Bay becomes hopping with life, and the ferries between St. Thomas and St. John are filled with Carnival revelers. Don't miss special events like the open- ing of the village, the food fair, the parade or the exciting 4th of July fireworks dis- play. Two major airports service the Virgin Islands; the Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas and the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St. Croix. There are daily non-stop flights from New York, Ne- wark, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Atlanta, an d Miami as well as seasonal flights from Boston. Connecting service from Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas and other major cities is also available. • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Bolongo Bay Beach Resort 76 Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas 180 Gallows Point Resort 60 Sapphire Beach Resort 37 Emerald Beach Resort 90 The Palms at Pelican Cove 38 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit USVI (800) 372-8784 www.visitusvi.com One of the many wonder ful beaches setting you will find in the USVI AREA GUIDES B M & T ••• September/October 2019 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 53 Photo Credit: Visit USVI